Thousands of junior doctors begin 72-hour strike

Thousands of junior doctors have walked out at the start of a three-day strike over pay and conditions – setting up picket lines outside hospitals across England.

The British Medical Association wants a 35% pay increase to make up for what they say is years of cuts.

But the government has insisted that is “completely unaffordable”.

NHS chiefs have called on both sides to “get down to talks as soon as possible”.